Travel from Koh Tao to Surat Thani with Lomprayah

We spent several incredible days in Koh Tao, enjoying the breath-taking sunsets, snorkelling in the enchanting underwater world, and indulging in authentic Thai delicacies. We were reluctant to leave this amazing island paradise but it was time to head back home. Here is the summary for our journey :

i.

Book bus ticket online with BusOnlineTicket.co.th

ii.

Board the Lomprayah ferry

iii.

Stopover at Koh Phangan Pier

iv.

Continue the Journey to Surat Thani Donsak Pier

v.

Arrival in Surat Thani

Book bus ticket online with BusOnlineTicket.co.th

1.

We booked our ferry + bus combo tickets from Koh Tao to Surat Thani Railway Station via BusOnlineTicket.co.th. On the departure day, we went to Koh Tao's Mae Haad Pier to check in at Lomprayah's counter to exchange for our tickets.

2.

Each passenger is given a ferry ticket in order to board the Lomprayah high speed catamaran, as well as a sticker for staff to identify our correct drop off point. We were also informed that we will have to alight the ferry at Koh Phangan, and board a new ferry at noon.

Board the Lomprayah ferry

3.

The ferry arrived at Koh Tao late, but finally, we were boarding. There are several staff on-board to assist passengers to load their luggage at the front of the ferry. However, you can choose to bring your luggage with you, if you prefer so.

4.

We sat indoors, at the free seating area of Lomprayah ferry. This room is air-conditioned and the seats are spacious with plenty of leg room. There are televisions in front for our viewing pleasure, while there is a shop selling snacks at the back of the room.

Stopover at Koh Phangan Pier

5.

After about an hour's travel, the ferry stopped at Koh Phangan and everybody was asked to alight. We had to wait an additional hour for another ferry to pick us up. At Koh Phangan's pier, there are several shelters for passengers to sit and wait. There are also local Thais selling sandwiches and cold beverages.

6.

Again, the Lomprayah ferry arrived later than announced. Everyone was very eager to board the ferry as the weather in Koh Phangan was hot.

Continue the Journey to Surat Thani Donsak Pier

7.

We boarded the ferry, and handed our luggage to the Lomprayah staff. As the journey to Surat Thani's Donsak Pier took another 3 hours, we opted to pay an extra 100 THB per person for a more comfortable travelling experience in the VIP room.

The seats in the VIP room is definitely more spacious and comfortable. In addition, few passengers will choose to spend some extra money to upgrade to this room. This is an added bonus for us as we practically have the entire room to ourselves!

8.

Fortunately, there are restrooms in Lomprayah's ferry. The restrooms are relatively clean and hygienic. However, the cubicles may be smaller than you're used to.

Arrival in Surat Thani

9.

Upon alighting the ferry at Surat Thani Donsak Pier, you will find several Lomprayah buses waiting to take you to your destination.

10.

Each Lomprayah bus will travel to a different location. After identifying the correct bus, we placed our bags in the luggage compartment and boarded the bus.

11.

The bus ride from Donsak Pier to Surat Thani Railway Station is about 2 hours. We arrived at the train station in the evening, with plenty of time to spare before boarding our train back to Bangkok.